When Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy, his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren’t expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the months that followed—a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy’s trip to heaven and back.

Heaven Changes Everything: Living Every Day With Eternity in Mind

A shattered leg, kidney stones, and a lump diagnosed as hyperplasia. Times were tough, money was scarce, and the bills and frustrations were piling up. It was into this kind of stressed out life that God sent Todd and Sonja Burpo the interruption of a life-threatening illness and emergency surgery for their almost four-year-old son Colton - an interruption that included his unforgettable journey to heaven. How did they cope?

Akiane: Her Life, Her Art, Her Poetry

Prodigy Akiane Kramarik shares her artwork, poetry, and the fascinating story surrounding her talent. Growing up in a home with an atheistic mother and a non-participating Catholic father did not stop four-year-old Akiane Kramarik from finding God. This girl's dreams began a conversation in the home that has eventually brought them all to Christianity and the world's attention. Akiane: Her Life, Her Art, Her Poetry is a collection of the best of Akiane's full-color paintings and poetry created from ages 4 to 10.

Heaven Is Real: Lessons on Earthly Joy - from the Man Who Spent 90 Minutes in Heaven

On January 18th, 1989, Don Piper died in a car accident. Ninety minutes later, after a preacher prayed over him, Piper came back to life with an extraordinary story. He'd been to heaven. So began the phenomenon of 90 Minutes in Heaven.

Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Near-Death Experience and Journey into the Afterlife

On November 10, 2008, Dr. Eben Alexander was driven into coma by a disease so lethal that only 1 in 10,000,000 survive. Seven days later, he awakened with memories of a fantastic odyssey deep into another realm that were more real than this earthly one - memories that included meeting a deceased birth sister he had never known existed. Dr. Alexander deployed all his knowledge as a scientist to find out whether his mind could have played a trick on him. In its shutdown state, there was no way it could have.

God's Not Dead: Evidence for God in an Age of Uncertainty

The goal of God’s Not Dead: Evidence for God in an Age of Uncertainty is straightforward: to help listeners develop "a faith that is real and credible - and strong enough to help others find faith in God." To that end, Rice Broocks outlines a roadmap that guides seekers to acknowledge the most basic truths of Christianity.

To Heaven and Back: A Doctor’s Extraordinary Account of Her Death, Heaven, Angels, and Life Again

In 1999 in the Los Rios region of southern Chile, orthopedic surgeon, devoted wife, and loving mother Dr. Mary Neal drowned in a kayak accident. While cascading down a waterfall, her kayak became pinned at the bottom and she was immediately and completely submerged. Despite the rescue efforts of her companions, Mary was underwater for too long, and as a result, died. To Heaven and Back is Mary’s remarkable story of her life’s spiritual journey and what happened as she moved from life to death to eternal life, and back again.

23 Minutes in Hell: One Man's Story About What He Saw, Heard and Felt in that Place of Torment

In 23 Minutes in Hell, Bill Wiese describes a horrifying and life-changing encounter with death and the powers of darkness. This audiobook is his personal account of an experience fraught with true fear and evil - his struggle with the devil's disciples faced during his 23 Minutes in Hell.

I Saw God: The True Story of a Young Boy's Miraculous Return from Death

Read the astonishing true story of a young boy's gruesome head-crushing injury, his three visits to Heaven, and his supernatural healing...and your life may change forever. Run over by a car at agefive, Billy Anderson died three times prior to emergency surgery and was left in a vegetative coma after large portions of his damaged brain were removed. Though his doctors did not expect him to survive, God had other plans - supernaturally healing Billy only six days after his skull-shattering accident.

The Map of Heaven: How Science, Religion, and Ordinary People Are Proving the Afterlife

The author of the number-one New York Times best seller Proof of Heaven teams up with the sages of times past, modern scientists, and with ordinary people who have had profound spiritual experiences to show the reality of heaven and our true identities as spiritual beings. WhenProof of Heaven was published, some people contacted Dr. Eben Alexander to argue that his near death experience was impossible. But many more have written to say his story resonated with them in profound ways.

Heaven's Gate: The Remarkable Journey of One Man Who Finds out If Heaven Is for Real

Jake's life wasn't going according to plan. In fact, nothing was going according to plan. And, after a horrific plane crash, he finds himself on a journey through the afterlife in an effort to discover the meaning of his life.

Appointments with Heaven: The True Story of a Country Doctor's Healing Encounters with the Hereafter

When a patient first asked Dr. Reggie Anderson to sit at her bedside as she passed from this life, something miraculous happened. As he held her hand, the veil between this world and the next parted…and he received an astonishing glimpse of what awaits us in heaven. Little did he know this was just a foretaste of what was to come - a lifetime of God-given "appointments with heaven." Join Reggie as he shares remarkable stories from his life and practice, including the personal tragedy that nearly drove him away from faith forever.

Encountering Heaven and the Afterlife: True Stories from People Who Have Glimpsed the World Beyond

What happens when we die? What is heaven really like? When we arrive, will we know people? What role do angels play in our lives? Can the amazing experiences of everyday people reveal insights into life “on the other side”? Trusted pastor Jim Garlow and experienced journalist Keith Wall believe they can.

For These Tough Times: Reaching Toward Heaven for Hope & Healing

When tragedy strikes, people desperately search for answers. Believers and unbelievers alike find themselves turning to God. Best-selling author and pastor Max Lucado points to the only real answer to tragedy and crisis: Prayer. In For These Tough Times, Lucado helps us understand how to pray despite our doubt and fear.

The Shack

Mackenzie Allen Phillips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, in this midst of his great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack one wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change his life forever.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up: Life Changing Lessons from Heaven

In You Can’t Make This Stuff Up, Theresa imparts the life-changing wisdom she’s received from Spirit and client readings.

Each chapter incorporates a powerful lesson that is made real by Theresa’s witty and wise insights. She shares moving client stories and fascinating behind-the-scenes tales from her life and hit reality show to help people find peace and closure and to better understand the spiritual world.

Hello From Heaven!: A New Field of Research - After-Death Communication - Confirms That Life and Love Are Eternal

In this groundbreaking study of after-death communication experiences, authors Bill and Judy Guggenheim focus on the 12 major types of ADCs people report, the loving messages they receive, and the effects on the lives of those who have been contacted. They present persuasive evidence that ADCs are authentic contacts by deceased loved ones and discuss a few of the many far-reaching social and spiritual implications of their findings. During their 7 years of research, Bill and Judy Guggenheim interviewed 2,000 people from all over America

Near-Death Experiences: The Rest of the Story: What They Teach Us About Living and Dying and Our True Purpose

Real-life stories of out-of-body experiences, encountering a special light, greeters from the afterlife, life reviews, tunnels, and 360-degree vision - are all part of this intriguing look at near-death experiences (NDEs) by one of the world's noted authorities, P.M.H. Atwater. Atwater shares her amazing findings, based on her sessions with more than 4,000 adults and children, and over 40 years of research; a breathtaking culmination to a successful and controversial career.

Waking Up in Heaven: A True Story of Brokenness, Heaven, and Life Again

For most of her life, Crystal McVea was a skeptic whose history of abuse and bad choices made her feel beyond the reach of God - who questioned if God was even real. She had all but given up hope. Then came December 10, 2009...and the moment that changed everything. Crystal doesn't remember the trauma or losing consciousness; she just remembers waking up in heaven, next to God....

The Story, NIV: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People

God has gone to great lengths to rescue lost and hurting people. That is what The Story is all about - the story of the Bible, God's great love affair with humanity. Condensed into 31 accessible chapters, The Story sweeps you into the unfolding progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation. Using the clear, accurate, and easy-to-understand text of the NIV, it allows the stories, poems, and teachings of the Bible to read like a novel.

My Time in Heaven

Is there life after death? After a tragic accident, doctors pronounced Richard Sigmund legally dead. Eight hours later, God miraculously brought him back to life on the way to the morgue. During those hours, God allowed him to experience the glorious beauty, heavenly sounds, sweet aromas, and boundless joys of heaven that await every believer. God then returned him to earth with a mission to tell the world what he saw.

Learning from the Light: Pre-Death Experiences, Prophecies, and Angelic Messages of Hope

John Lerma's best-selling book, Into the Light, inspired thousands of readers to discover not only what awaits us as we prepare to make our journey from earth to heaven, but, more importantly, how to achieve heaven on earth. In Learning from the Light, Dr. Lerma shares more angelic messages given to his patients and more stories from and about survivors who have experienced the loss of a loved one... and their visits with angels

A Stolen Life: A Memoir

"In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen. For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse. For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation. On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I dont think of myself as a victim. I survived...."

There's more going on in the world than meets the eye. There is an unseen spiritual realm, and occasionally God allows us glimpses of it. Angels, Miracles, and Heavenly Encounters offers a fascinating look at the supernatural world. It includes more than 40 true stories of miraculous provision, encounters with angels and demons, near-death experiences, and incredible rescues. You'll marvel at how God and His angels are working behind the scenes to protect and guide us.

Publisher's Summary

"Do you remember the hospital, Colton?” Sonja said. “Yes, mommy, I remember,” he said. “That’s where the angels sang to me."

When Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy, his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren’t expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the months that followed—a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy’s trip to heaven and back.

Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery - and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in life, sharing events that happened even before he was born. He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read. With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members. He describes Jesus, the angels, how “really, really big” God is, and how much God loves us.

Retold by his father, but using Colton’s uniquely simple words, Heaven Is for Real offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where, as Colton says, “Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses.”

No two ways about it, the information FROM the boy was very interesting. The book, however, is a preacher's vehicle. I'm glad the story was made available but probably would have benefited more from a point of view that didn't reference everything the boy told them to the author's own line of work.

If, however, you are involved in any christian philosophy and enjoy sermons with a positive message, this is the book for you.

I enjoyed the story but it was tough to listen to this narrator. He emphasizes each word which makes it come across too childish. Just because the story features a child doesn't mean you need to read it like you are speaking to a first grade class. The emotions from this reader seemed like someone reading a Christmas tale, and not a serious spiritual story. Sorry, but I cringed through this. For some this may not be so terrible.. just depends if you like this guy's reading style.

I am a Christian and truly believe in heaven. I wish the book was more focused the little boy. I think the father tries too hard to prove this really happened. Not sure I would recommend, but it did give me hope that I will be reunited with those I love.

STORY (personal memoir) - Heard great things about the movie, so had to at least listen to the book. As you can see from the title, this story is about a four-year-old boy, Colton Burpo, who goes to the hospital, has a near-death experience, goes to heaven and comes back. I really wanted to love this story and hoped it would lay to rest some burning questions...but it just didn't. It starts with a great interview with Todd Burpo (dad). Then the story begins by enumerating a lot of the health problems he had been having and how these tested his faith. Then it moves to little Colton's mysterious illness and all the hours the family spent trying to get him cured. Poor Colton really suffered for a couple weeks, and his parents suffered right along with him. After Colton comes home from the hospital, he starts revealing little things that start suggesting that perhaps he had been to heaven. I thoroughly enjoyed and believed the book till somewhere around his fourth or fifth revelation. Then we get to what made the story less believable...

First off, Colton's father is a pastor, so if little Colton says something like, "Hey, Dad, I saw an angel," Pastor Burpo starts comparing what Colton says to something in the Bible that supposedly validates his story. Second, almost everything Colton revealed went like this, "Hey, Dad"... (insert religious fact here) ... "and then he went off to play with his action heroes and left us standing there aghast." Thirdly, it's like nothing is left out, it's too perfect. Colton supposedly saw Jesus and God and John the Baptist and Mary and angels and the devil and golden streets and thrones and blah, blah. Then Colton starts repeating "Jesus loves us all" all the time. Sounds just like reading a religious pamphlet. It would have been much more believable had his dad not been a pastor with so much to gain by preaching every chance he got and if everything weren't tied up with a perfect little Bible bow.

I'll sum up by saying that Pastor Burpo sounds like a genuinely nice guy and I am not calling him a liar. I'm just saying this story was not 100% believable when heard with MY ears and processed through MY brain. It was, however, a short, enjoyable listen.

PERFORMANCE - Read by a male who did a pretty good job, especially when portraying young Colton.

OVERALL - I'd recommend this for anyone who might be interested in the subject matter, and you can make up your own mind whether you believe the story or not. It's interesting and entertaining, if nothing else. Probably should be previewed before letting younger children listen, mainly because of all Colton's suffering in the hospital.

What did you like best about Heaven Is for Real? What did you like least?

I honestly couldn't get through the whole book. It sounded so trite and cliche' I had to stop listening.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Have someone else write it.

Was Heaven Is for Real worth the listening time?

No.

Any additional comments?

I enjoy books on the afterlife and crossing over and was looking forward to this one as well. I read another book about this subject within the last year that was head and shoulders above this one. Maybe because the other one was so well written and the story was so detailed and believable, that I struggled to get more the 4 chapters in on this one.

I was sincerely disappointed in this book. If I'd have know that this was the father (...pastor's...) recollection, opinion and analysis of what happened I would not have wasted time or money on this book. I would have just rented it from the library. It may seem cynical but I have trouble with the way he twisted and justified everything that he wrote with scripture instead of leaving the reader to interpret.

What a great story. Glad it's through a child's eyes, so unspoiled and pure... God's magnificent love demonstrated through the miraculous

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Nimmi Hutnik

4/18/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Great story"

I have listened to this book twice and have recommended it to several people. It is not great literature but it is a good story. To my English ear, the accent of the reader is too broad and in terms of the story, it takes too long to get to Colton's experience of heaven. But on the whole the message carries great hope. I have lost three people this year and the book strongly encourages me to believe I will see them all again.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

J. Freeman

HULL, United Kingdom

8/10/11

Overall

"Disappointing"

Very disappointed with this book because I had high hopes.

This is the story of a four year old boy w
ho nearly died and apparently experienced heaven.

Read by the boys father who insists on speaking like a little boy whenever he quotes his son and does a lady voice when quoting his wife neither of which add to the story and becomes quite irritating.

There is some unnecessary padding out in the book including a chapter that describes a family day out in detail that has no relevance to the theme of the book.

My biggest problem with the story is that the child's experience of heaven happens to fit exactly with the child's fathers opinion of what heaven should be like. Repeatedly the father (who is pastor) states that as adults we KNOW that heaven is full of angels with wings, Jesus is there wearing a crown and a sash and other characters from the bible are also there. He keeps saying "how could I child know what is in heaven unless he had been there".

The child also makes statements like the only way to get to heaven is through Christ - this is really narrow minded old school theory. Presumably there are no Muslims or Hindu's in heaven then?

This account is purely a case of seeing and hearing what you want to see and hear.

4 of 13 people found this review helpful

Justine

Bulls, New Zealand

8/15/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"I didn't finish it"

I found the constant religious references frustrating - maybe that info is on the back cover of the printed book and if I had flicked through a printed copy I may have noticed it then, but I didn't notice it when looking at it on Audible.

I believe that this story did happen as read, but it didn't live up to my expectations of it. I didn't finish it - I guess there was no 'unknown' about the story to keep me interested.

0 of 2 people found this review helpful

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